In this episode of Observer Radio, politics writer Christopher Hooks stops by to talk about a political scandal involving Governor Rick Perry, Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg and a bottle of vodka. Staff writer Patrick Michels fills us in on Greg Abbott’s plan to improve struggling schools and how it could lead to charter school expansion.

Freelance writer Maurice Chammah joins us via phone to discuss his latest story, “To Kill? Or Not to Kill?” Chammah examines a declining trend in executions while profiling a small-town district attorney who must decide whether to seek the death penalty.

In the guest spot is Chicano film pioneer Efrain Gutierrez. There’s more to this interview than we had time for in the episode. You can view the rest right here on texasobserver.org.